A compliment is something nice you say to someone to show you appreciate or admire them. When you tell your friend “I love your drawing” or “You're really good at soccer,” you're giving them a compliment. When someone says “That was a smart answer” after you solve a tricky problem, they're complimenting you.

Good compliments are specific and sincere. Saying “You're awesome” feels nice, but saying “I really appreciated how you helped me understand that math problem” tells someone exactly what you valued. People remember compliments that show you actually noticed something meaningful about them or their work.

The word sounds like “complement” (which means something that completes or goes well with something else), but they're different words. If your shoes complement your outfit, they match it well. If someone compliments your shoes, they're praising them.

When you give genuine compliments, you're recognizing the effort and talents of others. When you receive a compliment gracefully, a simple “thank you” works perfectly. Some people brush off compliments or argue with them (“No, I'm terrible at soccer!”), but that can make the person who gave the compliment feel dismissed. Accepting a compliment with appreciation honors both the kind words and the person who offered them.